SINGAPORE – A new outpatient Flexi-Medisave scheme which comes into effect from April 1 will allow Singaporeans aged 65 and above to use up to S$200 of their Medisave each year for medical treatments at public sector Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs), polyclinics, and General Practitioner clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). 

A patient can also tap on his/her spouse's Medisave if the spouse is aged 65 and above.

The new scheme was announced by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong today (Jan 11) at CHAS Family Carnival, as he noted that the elderly are a "special group" whose concerns have "mostly focused on recurring outpatient care". Many have asked for greater flexibility to use their Medisave, said Mr Gan. 

Last year, the Government allowed Medisave to be used for more chronic disease treatments and vaccinations. From the start of this year, patients have so been able to use Medisave to pay for outpatient scans.  "We have also made Medisave easier to use, by fully absorbing the transaction fees and removing the $30 deductible so that patients can use Medisave from the first dollar for their chronic disease treatment," said Mr Gan.

"With the enhanced subsidies, be it for outpatient care or under CHAS, this means that the elderly will pay even less cash for their outpatient medical treatment," he said in his speech.

Flexi-Medisave generally covers medical services and drugs, tests and investigations which are necessary for diagnosis or treatment of a medical condition and ordered by a doctor, and can also be used for screening tests that are currently under the Integrated Screening Programme. Flexi-Medisave can also supplement other outpatient uses of Medisave.

Meanwhile, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) today also launched localised maps for the residents of Tampines to help them better identify the locations of CHAS centres and elderly care services in their vicinity.

The paper maps - an AIC pilot project - makes it easier for residents, especially the elderly and those with limited internet access, to locate community care services, such as GP clinics, in their area.

The five maps - for Tampines East, Tampines West, Tampines North, Tampines Central and Tampines Changkat - feature landmarks like schools, community clubs and shopping malls. They are available at all community clubs within the Tampines GRC.

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is also advisor to the Tampines Grassroots Organisation, was also present at the launch which was held in conjunction with the CHAS Family Carnival this morning.

The Health Minister launched the HealthyPathway@Tampines. The 1km pathway, an initiative by the Health Promotion Board, has readers installed every few hundred metres. Those with a tapping device can tap on the readers and earn points, which they can redeem for rewards, as they walk or jog along the pathway.